Super-foods are considered to be nutrient-rich powerhouses that are beneficial for overall health and well-being. Eating these super-foods may reduce the risk of chronic disease and lengthen your life. Along with essential nutrients, super-foods feed our body the necessary nutrients that our Standard American Diet is lacking.

The Standard American diet in a nutshell is loaded with unhealthy saturated and trans fats. Our meals are unbalanced, over-sized and loaded with sugar, salt, artificial ingredients and preservatives. We have an abundance of food at our finger tips but yet we are extremely malnourished and mineral deficient. We are literally starving our bodies to death! People are not obtaining the basic nutrients their bodies needs in order to fuel what is needed to perform its proper functions. We are literally running on empty!  There is about 20 million estimated Americans with some type of hypothyroid disorder.

Although your thyroid is small, it produces a hormone that influences every cell, tissue and organ in the body. The thyroid determines the rate in which your body produces the energy from nutrients and oxygen. What if you could start eating foods to feed your thyroid? What if you could start nourishing your body back to health with foods that jump kick your metabolism? Foods that are powerful enough to help you lower your cholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer? Are you interested?

I really don’t like labeling a certain number of foods as “super” to just 21. There are so many  other foods out there that pack a powerhouse punch but if you are affected by hypothyroidism these foods that I have listed will start to feed your body the nutrients that it is lacking. Make sure you eat the color of the rainbow. Fill your plate with a lot of fibrous vegetables that will help you lose weight, stay fuller longer and improve your skin. When you eat fibrous vegetables it passes through your body undigested, keeping your digestive tract running smoothly and helping your bowel movements flush out cholesterol and harmful carcinogens. Fibrous foods are asparagus, green beans, beetroot, cooked broccoli, cooked brussel sprouts, carrots, celery, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, mushrooms, onions tomatoes and cooked spinach. Many people with hypothyroidism are deficient in Magnesium, B-12, Zinc, Iodine, B2, Vitamin C, Selenium, Vitamin D and Vitamin A.

Blueberries are nutrient dense and are loaded with fiber, vitamin c, vitamin K, manganese, antioxidants, fights cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, fights cancer and boosts brain health.

Pumpkin is loaded with antioxidants, fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, magnesium, potassium , zinc, contains L tryptophan, a chemical compound that triggers feelings of well-being that aid depression and is anti-inflammatory which means it helps with joint health, organ health, stress relief and soft tissue injuries!

Gluten free oatmeal are suitable for a gluten-free diet. People with hypothyroidism typically have a gluten intolerance. Oatmeal with fuel your body, give you fiber, help lower your cholesterol, enhance your immune system and help stabilize your blood sugar.

Free-range or “pastured” organic eggs contain Tryptophan and Tyrosine which is important for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. They are loaded with  all 9 essential amino acids choline, powerful antioxidants and sulfurB12, vitamin A, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin e, iron, phosphorous, selenium and B2 and B5.

Beans, beans, beans the magical fruit! The more you eat the more you toot! Eating foods that cause gas is the only way for the microbes in the gut to get nutrients.  They are full of nutrients, including protein, fiber, slow-burning carbs, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Healthy individual can have up to 18 flatulences per day and be perfectly normal per Purna Kashyap, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Red bell peppers is an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin E, manganese, antioxidant-rich,  six different carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin).

Sardines  are rich in omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, which have been found to lower triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Sardines are an excellent source of vitamin D, vitamin b12 and rich in protein, which provides us with amino acids.

Brazil nuts are a very good source of vitamin-E, Vitamin B, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, folates, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc. Just two brazil nuts per day can  give you the recommended daily allowance of  selenium. Most hypothyroidism patients are selenium deficient.

Dark chocolate Cacao not cocoa are two different kinds of chocolate. Once the beans are roasted and processed that they are called cocoa. Most cocoa powders have additives like sweeteners or cocoa butter. The cocoa beans lose much of their nutritional benefits. Cacao is the purest form of chocolate you can eat. It is raw and much less processed than store bought cocoa powder. It’s full antioxidants, magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc, copper and manganese.

Wild salmon is loaded with omega 3 fatty acids, High Quality Protein, Essential Amino Acids, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus.

 

Seaweed contains vitamins A, vitamin C, calcium and is a natural source of  iodine. Iodine deficiency is common with people who have hypothyroidism. Symptoms of being iodine deficient are fatigue, depression, difficulty losing weight and are a higher chance of becoming sick.

Chia seeds contain Zinc, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Potassium, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), fiber, protein, magnesium, Vitamin B2, calcium, phosphorus, loaded with Antioxidants, almost all the carbs in chia seeds are fiber, they have more Omega-3 fatty acids than salmon and has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, increase HDL cholesterol and reduce inflammation.
 want to thank you  for reading my latest blog.  Please let me know if you need any support with it. 

Otherwise, are we friends on Facebook yet?  If not let’s do that now, Got Hypothyroidism?   I like to connect on a more personal level there and often; offer social media only products that can only be accessed on my page and share daily updates along with recipes. Remember sharing is caring. Please share and post a comment to this blog! I would love to hear from you. Sign up for my blogs @ thehypothyroidismchick.com .  You can also  Follow me on instagram @ Thyroidismchick or Follow me on twitter @Thyroidismchick.

Health and Happiness,

 

Disclaimer

The information and recipes contained in blog is based upon the research and the personal experiences of the author. It’s for entertainment purposes only. Every attempt has been made to provide accurate, up to date and reliable information. No warranties of any kind are expressed or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical or professional advice. By reading this blog, the reader agrees that under no circumstance the author is not responsible for any loss, direct or indirect, which are incurred by using this information contained within this blog. Including but not limited to errors, omissions or inaccuracies. This blog is not intended as replacements from what your health care provider has suggested.  The author is not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions, preparations or procedures discussed in this blog. All matters pertaining to your health should be supervised by a health care professional. I am not a doctor, or a medical professional. This blog is designed for as an educational and entertainment tool only. Please always check with your health practitioner before taking any vitamins, supplements, or herbs, as they may have side-effects, especially when combined with medications, alcohol, or other vitamins or supplements.  Knowledge is power, educate yourself and find the answer to your health care needs. Wisdom is a wonderful thing to seek.  I hope this blog will teach and encourage you to take leaps in your life to educate yourself for a happier & healthier life. You have to take ownership of your health.

 

 

References

1. European Commission (2010). Functional foods. DG Research. Brussels: Belgium.
2. The Gleaner (1915). Kingston, Jamaica, 24 June 18/2.
3. Oxford English Dictionary, online edition, entry superfood, www.oxforddictionaries.com/. Accessed on 24 April 2012.
4. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, online edition, entry superfood, www.merriam-webster.com/. Accessed on 24 April 2012.
5. Yi W et al. (2005). Phenolic compounds from blueberries can inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. Agric Food Chem 53(18):7320–9.
6. Malin DH et al. (2011). Short-term blueberry-enriched diet prevents and reverses object recognition memory loss in aging rats. Nutrition 27(3):338–42.
7. Dröge W. (2002). Free radicals in the physiological control of cell function. Physiol Rev 82(1):47–95.
8. Lichtenthäler R et al. (2005). Total oxidant scavenging capacities of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) fruits. Int J Food Sci Nutr 56(1):53–64.
9. Hassimotto NMA et al. (2005). Antioxidant activity of dietary fruits, vegetables, and commercial frozen fruit pulps. J Agric Food Chem 53:2928–35.
10. Lynn A et al. (2012). Effects of pomegranate juice supplementation on pulse wave velocity and blood pressure in healthy young and middle-aged men and women. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 67(3):309–14.
11. Aviram M et al. (2000). Pomegranate juice consumption reduces oxidative stress, atherogenic modifications to LDL, and platelet aggregation: studies in humans and in atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E–deficient mice. Am J Clin Nutr 71(5):1062–76.
12. Webb AJ et al. (2008). Acute blood pressure lowering, vasoprotective, and antiplatelet properties of dietary nitrate via bioconversion to nitrite. Hypertension 51:784–90.
13. Kris-Etherton PM & Keen CL. (2002). Evidence that the antioxidant flavonoids in tea and cocoa are beneficial for cardiovascular health. Curr Opin Lipidol 13:41–9.
14. Hooper L et al. (2008). Flavonoids, flavonoid-rich foods, and cardiovascular risk: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Clin Nutr 88(1):38–50.
15. Kris-Etherton PM et al. (2003). Fish consumption, fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, and cardiovascular disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 23:e20–e30.
16. Delgado-Lista J et al. (2012). Long chain omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: a systematic review. Br J Nutr 107(Suppl 2):S201–13.
17. Goldberg RJ & Katz J. (2007). A meta-analysis of the analgesic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for inflammatory joint pain. Pain 129(1–2):210–23.
18. Brown MJ et al. (2004). Carotenoid bioavailability is higher from salads ingested with full-fat than with fat-reduced salad dressings as measured with electrochemical detection. Am J Clin Nutr 80:396–403.
19. EU Register on nutrition and health claims: http://ec.europa.eu/nuhclaims/
20. Crozier A et al. (1997). Quantitative analysis of the flavonoid content of commercial tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and celery. J Agric Food Chem 45(3):590–5.
21. EFSA panel on dietetic products, nutrition and allergies (2010). Scientific opinion on dietary reference values for carbohydrates and dietary fibre. EFSA Journal 8(3):1462. Available at: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1462.htm
22. EUFIC Review (2012). Fruit and vegetable consumption in Europe – do Europeans get enough? http://www.eufic.org/article/en/expid/Fruit-vegetable-consumption-Europe/
23. EUFIC Review (2009). Food-based dietary guidelines in Europe. http://www.eufic.org/article/en/expid/food-based-dietary-guidelines-in-europe/
24. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=54
25. http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2014/04/28/306544406/got-gas-it-could-mean-you-ve-got-healthy-gut-microbes?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=email
26. http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Beans-Weight-Loss-32829604
27. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/02/why-does-this-commonly-vilified-food-actually-prevent-heart-disease-and-cancer.aspx
28. https://authoritynutrition.com/11-proven-health-benefits-of-chia-seeds/
29. http://eshape.org/health-foods/worlds-healthiest-sea-vegetables/
30. https://wildforsalmon.com/why-wild/health-benefits/page.aspx?id=1097
31. https://authoritynutrition.com/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate/
32. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=8
33. http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/brazil-nuts.html
34. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=147
35. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?dbid=50&tname=foodspice
36. http://www.mayo.edu/research/faculty/kashyap-purna-c-m-b-b-s/bio-00092735
37. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279610.php